About the Author

Australia's largest 'ex-gay'therapy service ends

One of the foremost and longest-running ‘pray the gay away’ therapy programs in Australia will cease operations next month.

Living Waters Australia Director Ron Brookman has broken the news in a letter to his followers.

“Sadly, it is time to wind up the ministry,” he writes. “There is nobody who has been identified, trained, or who is willing to take up leadership… It seems that the Lord is preparing to do something new in bringing healing to the broken.

“One of my concerns as I have faced the pain of closure is that it will look as though those who have vehemently opposed us have prevailed,” he laments.

“The deepest desire of my heart remains: to see the image of God restored in the lives of His people. Wholesome heterosexuality alone reflects God’s image.”

“It will look as though those who have vehemently opposed us have prevailed.”

As news of Living Water’s imminent closure spreads, many in the LGBTI communities will take heart from the fact that there’s now only a small number of ex-gay conversation therapy organisations remaining.

“For the last fifteen years ex-gay ministries have been in decline in this country,” says Anthony Venn-Brown, who has been monitoring their activities for almost two decades.

“Participants in these ‘change is possible’ programs are often emotionally and psychologically damaged,” he points out. “It can take years to work through the trauma, shame and self-loathing. Some have even taken their own lives.

“Living Waters’ closure means that Christian people ‘struggling with unwanted same sex attraction’ will have fewer options and less people will be harmed. But it also means that we have to build bridges to the strugglers to help them reconcile faith and sexuality instead of being told they have to choose one or the other.

“Sadly, for the next twenty years we will no doubt be working with those previously damaged by the out dated message that homosexuality is a sin and God changes gay people to straight.”

The remaining organisations’ days are numbered, he adds. “As the gay Christian movement grows exponentially, the number of LGBTI welcoming, accepting and affirming churches increases annually.

“The vast majority of Australians have an out, proud gay or lesbian brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, parent or grandparent, friend or work colleague. And to hear churches or religious organisations label them as sick, dysfunctional and broken is abhorrent, offensive and ignorant.”

WATCH: Young Sydneysider Ben Gresham was given gay-to-straight ‘conversion therapy’ by his church during his teenage years. See an interview with him about it below.

All About

Add Follows

Stay informed about your favourite artists and events. We'll email you whenever there is new events, news or content posted about your favourite things. Simply select those you want to be notified about
View my Follows |
Follow Settings

Facebook member?

I went through a similar program in the Assemblies Of God church. Twice weekly counselling and weekly prayer meetings where I would sit in the middle of a circle and the "elders" would lay on hands and pray for me in the hope of casting out all sorts of demons. Including..... wait for it...... the demon of addiction, because I smoked cigarettes. Never mind the fact it's a perfectly legal activity which unlike drugs or alcohol (which I didn't touch), could not make me aggressive or violent in any way, shape or form.

Turns out the head "counselor" ended leaving his wife of 20 years and four children............... for a man! In retrospect, it all makes perfect sense now as this "counselor" simply knew too much about the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the gay community. Straight men DO NOT take themselves alone to a sex on site venue for nonsexual "research."

LNP Queensland state parliament speaker Fiona Simpson, in 2002, advised people struggling with homosexuality to contact the "ex-gay" organization Exodus ministry, which she claimed could "cure" homosexuality.